New School University will host the 7th Philosophy Born of Struggle Conference on "Slavery and Reparations" on Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21, 2000. Speakers at the conference will include: Adjoa Aiyetoro, Carl Brisco from Lincoln University, Maia K. Hadi from the National Council on Reparations, Leonard Harris from Purdue University, Frank Kirkland from Hunter College, Bill Lawson from Michigan State University, Howard McGary from Rutgers University, Deborah Post from Touro Law School, James Turner from Cornell University, Dreadria C. Farmer-Paellmann, J. Soffiyah Elijah from Harvard University, Ron Walters from the University of Maryland, and J. Everet Green from Mercy College and SUNY-Rockland.

The conference will explore the economic, social, cultural, psychological and political consequences of reparations. Emphasis will be placed on the recognition that the enslavement of Africans was a crime against humanity and international law recognizes that those who commit crimes against humanity must make reparations. Consideration will be given to the historical precedence for reparations.

The conference will seek to address several questions: in what ways have all Africans around the world been affected by the crimes of slavery? Who should be responsible for paying reparations? What kind of historical research needs to be done to assess the psychological and cultural damage inflicted on Africans for over a period of more than three hundred years? How can one measure compensation for the destruction of civilizations? What are the institutions needed to begin to address the debilitating effects of slavery including the unspeakable terror of the middle passages? Who are the claimants for restitution?

The conference is sponsored by New School University’s Diversity Initiative, which has as its goal to present multicultural perspectives to the New School community and to reach out to the diverse communities of New York City for their participation.

Morning Session…9:15 AM – 12:30 PM

9:15 AM – 9:50 AM…Opening Statement by J. Everet Green

10:00 AM – 10:40 AM…Reparations and Reconciliation by Ronald Walters of the University of Maryland

10:50 AM – 12:15 PM…Discussion

Lunch Break…12:15 PM – 1:30 PM

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM…Greeting by Richard Bernstein of New School University

2:00 PM – 2:40 PM…The Legal Arguments for Reparations by Deborah Post of Touro Law School

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM…Discussion by Carl Briscoe of Lincoln University and Sam Anderson

Break…4:00 PM – 4:25 PM

4:35 PM – 5:40 PM…Reparations in our Life Time by Adjoa Aiyetoro

5:40 PM – 5:55 PM…Closing Remarks

Morning Session…9:30 AM – Noon

9:30…Welcome

9:45 AM – Noon…Slavery and Reparations by Howard McGary of Rutgers University, Frank Kirkland of Hunter College, and William Lawson of Michigan State University

Lunch…Noon – 1:25 PM

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM…Slavery and the Legal Arguments for Reparations by J. Soffiyah Elijah from Harvard University

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM…Discussion in Her Majesty Service by Deadria C. Farmer-Paullmann

Break: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM

4:20 PM – 5:40 PM…Crimes Against Humanity by Leonard Harris of Purdue University and J. Everet Green of Mercy College and Rockland Community College

5:40 PM – 5:50 PM…Closing Remarks

All events take place at New School University’s Wolff Conference Room at 65 Fifth Avenue, NYC. For further information, call: J. Everet Green at (845) 574-4797